24 Great Dollar Tree Finds to Practice Math Concepts in the Classroom or at Home

Foam Dry Erase Block

• Write numbers or fractions for students to roll and create representations of that number
• Write math vocabulary words – when students roll the block, they will explain the meaning of the vocabulary word they roll
• Write questions for students to answer about each of the problems that they solved – works for extension questions for students who finish quickly – write the steps you took to solve the problem; – what if the first factor was doubled, what would happen to the product?…..
• Easily erase and rewrite questions or problems for other tasks/activities
• Allow students to write on the blocks – “write equivalent fractions for one half”

Sand Timer

• One minute timer to practice basic facts
• Time students to build a model of an equation in one minute
• Use for individual students to time themselves with independent practice games
• Use to play minute to win it math games

Toy Farm Animals, Bugs, Lizards, Frogs, and Dinosaurs

• Counting
• Ordering by size
• Sorting
• Real World Word Problems
• Doubles
• Adding more than two addends
• Repeated Addition
• Multiplying – Equal Groups
• Allow students to create their own math problems based on the creatures they are given

Pompoms

• Counting
• One to one correspondence
• Sorting by color
• Comparing
• Adding within 10 and 20
• Subtracting within 10 and 20
• Multiplying – creating equal groups or arrays
• Dividing – sharing out into equal shares

Play Money

• Counting and sorting coins and dollars
• Adding combinations of coins and/or dollars
• Repeated addition
• Multiplying groups of the same coin or dollar

Foam Dice

• Subitizing – have the student quickly identify what amount is shown on the die when they roll it
• Roll and add the numbers
• Make 10 – throw one die on the ground or against the wall, whatever it lands on, figure out the number you need to add to it in order to make 10.  Do the same thing in order to Make 20 by using both dice. This can be modified to make any number within 20.

Dice Game

• Use the dice from the game
  • Subitizing and counting on
  • Addition two, three, or four addends at a time
  • Part-Part-Whole
  • Roll the dice to create two, three, four, or five digit numbers to practice Place Value
  • Roll two dice and multiply both numbers to find a product

Playing Cards

• Play games to practice
  • Counting
  • Addition
  • Subtraction
  • Multiplication
  • Missing addend
  • Missing factor
  • Place value
  • Comparing numbers
  • Skip counting

Test Tubes with Holder

• Use to measure liquid volume
• Answer comparing questions such as “how many more” or “how many fewer” using addition and subtraction

Make It Blocks – Building Blocks

• Practice creating arrays
• Use two colors of blocks to represent the distributive property
• Students can use blocks to represent multiplication and division equations

Paper Cups

• Represent equal groups (e.g. 3 groups of 4 cups is 12 cups)
• Create arrays by making rows
• Sort objects by color, size, or type
• Use to represent real world problem situations where students are putting actual items into cups

Acrylic Gems/Glass Gems

• Counting
• One to one correspondence
• Sorting by color
• Comparing
• Adding within 10 and 20
• Subtracting within 10 and 20
• Multiplying – creating equal groups or arrays
• Dividing – sharing out into equal shares

Activity Tray

• Use to practice 4s facts by making four groups of a number
• Sort items into groups
• Use to represent the area model for multiplication – solve 2 by 2, 2 by 1, or 1 by 2 problems
• Use to as a holder when sorting or counting coins
• Hold a set of manipulatives that you want a specific student or group to use during an activity

Index Cards

• Write equations to match models
• Create labels
• Math facts
• Write numbers on cards to practice:
  • Ordering
  • Counting
  • Sorting
  • Place value
  • Factors
  • Multiples
  • Prime
  • Composite

Clear Plastic Tumblers (Cups) or Bowls

• Represent equal groups
• Create arrays by making rows
• Sort objects by color, size, or type
• Use to represent real world problem situations where students are putting actual items into cups

Chenille Stems

• Sorting
• Counting
• Making a number
• Angles
• Geometry
• Measurement
• Number Bonds

Hair Elastics

• Sorting
• Counting
• Equal groups
• Division (sharing)
• Grouping objects

Brown Paper Bags

• Use to represent real world problem situations where students are putting actual items into bags
• Write numbers on the envelopes to practice counting and identify numerals
• Order numbers from 1-5,  1-10 or 1-20
• Create Scavenger Hunt or Crack the Code tasks and place them in bags to hold clues or instructions
• Sort objects into the bags
• Mystery Number – write clues on the outside of the bag and students have to figure out what the mystery number inside is

Sudoku Puzzle Book

• Paper puzzle book to practice logic and reasoning skills
• Use for early finishers or as fun homework

Wood Beads

• Counting
• One to one correspondence
• Sorting by color
• Comparing
• Adding within 10 and 20
• Subtracting within 10 and 20
• Multiplying – creating equal groups or arrays
• Dividing – sharing out into equal shares

Plastic Snack or Storage Bags

• Use to represent real world problem situations where students are putting actual items into bags
• Hold skill practice games in envelopes for quick access to both teachers and students

Pointer Finger

• Use to point to objects not directly in reach
• Students use to point to their work when sharing their work on the board or document camera
• Assists with counting objects and one to one correspondence

Dry Erase Board

• Show work in a fun way
• Write answers quickly
• Draw picture models
• Use to play fast quiz games where students can write their answers and hold it up to show the class
• Use to model a strategy when working with a small group or one on one

Envelopes

• Write numbers on the envelopes to practice counting and identify numerals
• Order numbers from 1-5,  1-10 or 1-20
• Create Scavenger Hunt or Crack the Code tasks and place them in envelopes to hold clues or instructions
• Hold skill practice games in envelopes for quick access to both teachers and students